Ornamentation and method for producing the same



March 31, 1936, J FARWELL 2,@325,54@

ORNAMENTATION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE} SAME Filed July 16, 1935 Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORNAMENTATION AND LIETHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME The present invention relates to improvements in decorative materials and methods of producing same, and more particularly relates to the production of decorative-effects from sponge.

An object of the invention is to produce improved ornamental and decorative effects useful in such articles as ladies hat bands, corsages and boutonnieres in which the beautiful color effects to be had from the use of sponge arranged in various configurations and dyed in a variety of blending colors, is enhanced by a clouded or cob-web effect produced particularly about the edges of the sponge figures by pulling or plucking such sponge.

The invention has for a further purpose and object the bringing together in an ornamental ensemble of vari-colored pieces of sponge made to resemble flowers or some other articles.

A still further object of the invention is to secure the above effects in an economical manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure '1 is a top plan view of an ornamental hat band constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan of the same.

Figure 3 is an edged view of such hat band.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the sponge before the pulling or plucking operation.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the sponge subsequent to such operation.

Figure 6 is a plan View of a single ornamental figure used as a corsage or boutonniere.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the decorative material is made out of sponge, such sponge being cut to various sizes or shapes. The sponge is subjected to treatment in a mixture of dyes to which preservatives have been added to prevent the color from fading when continuously subjected to the sun or otherelements. That is to say particles of sponge are arranged .in various shapes and various sizes of desired thickness, one piece being dyed in one color and-another piece in a different color, or a single piece being dyed in two or more colors.

Figure 6 shows such a piece of sponge material being dyed in a central part thereof, indicated at I, with a deep dye representing the heart of a flower while the area lying all about said heart I is dyed of a lighter color, such area being designated at 8. This area will represent the petals or the blossom of the flower. Other pieces of sponge represented at 9 and I0 project radially beyond the marginal portions of the area 8 and are dyed for instance green and shaped to represent the leaves on the stem of the flower. With the main design shown in Figure 6, there may also be coupled a second design in the form of a loud or smaller flower of the same or a contrasting color.

The heart of this smaller flower is shown at l l surrounded by the area l2. A pleasing effect is produced where the heart 1 of the main flower is reproduced in the color yellow while the heart ll of the smaller flower is dyed a deep green.

In Figure 1 there is shown a ladies hat band i composed of a number of pieces of the sponge representing various flowers in an attractive ensemble arrangement with the largest flower at the center of the hat band and the grouping and arrangement tapering off in both directions toward the free ends of the band. The larger figure isindicated at l3 as having a heart l4 and leaves l5, l6, I1, and I8 are shown as grouped about the central piece l3. To the right of the central piece 13 is a sponge piece 19 having a heart 20, the 2 same being of reduced diameter as compared with the central piece. In like manner various other groups and arrangement of sponge pieces extend on to the right for a suiflcient distance to compose a hat band of requisite length.

To the left of the large central piece Hi there are grouped one above another in overlapping relation the sponge pieces 2| and 22 having respectively the hearts 23 and 24. In like manner there are additional pieces of sponge in the representation of flowers or other designs extending on to the left beyond the pieces 2| and 22 for the requisite length of the hat band.

The band is placed around the ladies hat and the free end pieces of sponge 25 and 26 are secured together and to the crown of the hat in a usual manner.

The various pieces of sponge, as shown in Figure 2, may be assembled upon a strip of milliner's 'buckram 21. The sponge pieces may be pasted,

sewn or otherwise secured to the buckram strip 21. Such strip possesses the desirable flexibility, strength and open-work construction suitable to receive and hold the sponge pieces firmly in the grouping selected.

After the sponge pieces have been dyed, certain portions of the sponge are then removed by a process which produces a cob-web or clouded effect. Such effect is generally, though not necessarily, confined to the margin portions of the sponge piece. Other portions of the sponge may be removed in such manner as to represent or closely resemble the unopened or undeveloped petals of a flower. Still other portions are removed in such a manner as to resemble the stem of a flower and its accompanying leaves. This removal is accomplished by pulling or plucking the sponge with the fingers or with other appropriate implements which reduces the density of the sponge material although not necessarily its main thickness; but the removed portions permit of the passage of light and permit the visibility of the buckram or other background so that a filmy, clouded or cob-web effect is produced upon the eye of the observer.

After the sponge pieces are cut to shape, dyed and plucked, the various pieces are then assembled or grouped in such manner as to represent a complete flower and are fastened together by sewing, pasting, glueing or other method. This may be done by attaching the completed flower or other related design to buckram, gauze or other backing materials; or the assembling may be done without such materials. In Figure 4 there is shown a piece 28 of sponge that has just been lately dyed and cut to shape but before the plucking or pulling operation; while Figure 5 shows the same piece of sponge 28 after the plucking operation wherein certain portions, particularly about the margin, have been removed or pulled out by this plucking operation leaving voids or spaces 29 which thin out the sponge and permit the passage of light and visibility as above described.

The flowers thus produced may be used for many purposes including decorations for millinery, dresses, other wearing apparel and accessories and for interior decorations. Landscape scenes may be also reproduced as well as other designs besides flowers.

The following is the dye mixture which has been found particularly useful in connection with the sponge material:

Two tablespoons of vinegar in one gallon of water with one teaspoonful of castor oil; and proportion dye in accordance with the shade desired.

It will be found that the grass or wire sponge is most suitable for the invention as contrasted particularly with wool sponge. The grass or wire sponge has a stifl structure to withstand the plucking and pulling process in the manufacture of flowers while maintaining its general natural structure so that the appearance of the sponge as to formation and structure are not materially changed by the pulling or plucking process except insofar as voids are created to reproduce the filmy or clouded effects referred to. Sponge material has an open structure which gives an impression of perspective not had for instance by cloth unless folded several times in layers which requires a great deal of time, skill and resulting cost. The nature of the sponge also reacts in a peculiar manner with the dyes to give very pleasing color efi'ects. The natural yellow sponge is preferred as it gives unusual color results. For instance pink dye gives a salmon shade and 'pastel shades are had by reason of the dulling effect of the sponge material as compared with a bright or polished finish.

The sponge is of course dried and bleached from its natural very dark yellow to a light or bright yellow color whereby to take the pastel colors. The dyeing may be accomplished with ordinary commercial dyes and either before or after dyeing portions of the sponge are cut to shape suitable for working into the design. These portions are picked or plucked either before or after dyeing causing portions of sponge to come off in the fingers as indicated to decrease the physical density of v the outer parts of the sponge to the extent that outer parts can be seen through in places. By arranging contiguous sponge sections of contrasting color overlapping one another the pulled out portions yield a very beautiful color arrangement and scheme. The hearts of the flowers may be generally made by separate pieces of the sponge material which are embedded in the larger pieces, the open cellular and compressible nature of the sponge material readily admitting of this embedding.

It will be understood that the various steps of the method may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention provided such modifications are within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The herein described method for producing decorative designs from sponge which consists in cutting the sponge to shape, dyeing the same to the requisite color, and pulling or plucking out portions of the sponge material to reduce the density of the physical structure whereby to produce filmy or clouded effects.

2. The herein described method for producing ornamental designs from sponge material which consists in drying and bleaching the sponge from its natural very dark yellow to a light yellow, cutting the sponge into pieces to shape to fit into the design when assembled, dyeing such pieces, and pulling or plucking the sponge pieces to remove portions thereof whereby to reduce the physical density of the sponge structure to reproduce filmy or clouded effects.

3. The herein described method for forming ornamental designs from sponge material which consists in selecting wire or grass sponge, drying the same, bleaching such material from its natural very dark yellow to a light or bright yellow, dyeing the bleached material, cutting the material to shape, pulling or plucking the sponge material with the fingers to remove portions particularly from the edges of the pieces whereby to reduce the physical density of the sponge structure to produce filmy or clouded effects, and assembling such shaped and dyed pieces of sponge on to a strip of buckram in accordance with a preconceived design ensemble.

4. An ornamental article of bleached and colored sponge having a substantially flat bottom surface for supporting the article, and a top sur- -face having a greater physical density about the inner than the outer portions thereof, the said outer portion adapted to admit the passage of light and visibility for effecting a filmy or clouded appearance around said outer portion.

ELIZABETH JIBB FARWEIL. 

